The film is dedicated to Sam Hanna Bell (1909-1990), the author of the source novel, who died shortly before the film's premiere.
First cinema film of Saskia Reeves.
In the sailing scenes of the minister being taken across Strangford Lough, the main "sailing" the boat was unable to sail. He was being instructed by Patrick Malahide, who below the camera shot was controlling the sails as he was the only one who knew how to sail a sailing boat.